GA flying allowed after lockdown ends

General Aviation flying and training flights will be permitted across England after the current national lockdown ends on 2 December 2020. However, pilots will have to observe local tier restrictions which replace national restrictions in England.

Tier 1: medium alert level

A maximum of 6 people can meet indoors or outdoors. You should avoid travelling to Tier 3 areas except where necessary, such as for:

• work or education purposes
• urgent engine health, maintenance check flights, and flights to maintain currency only, where alternative options are not available

Businesses and venues following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host larger groups. They must take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment.

Tier 2: high alert level

No mixing of households is allowed indoors apart from support bubbles. A maximum of 6 people can meet outdoors. You should avoid travelling into Tier 3 areas except where necessary, such as for:

• work or education purposes
• urgent engine health, maintenance check flights, and flights to maintain currency only, where alternative options are not available

You should also look to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.

Businesses and venues following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host larger groups. They must take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment.

In Tier 3: very high alert level

Any flights that take place in Tier 3 areas should land at the same airfield from which they departed, apart from where this is outside of the reasonable control of the pilot.

Businesses and venues following COVID-19 secure guidance can host larger groups, but group activities should not take place unless as part of a single household or bubble. They must take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment.

No mixing of households indoors, or in most outdoor places, is allowed, apart from support bubbles.

You must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’.

People should avoid travelling outside the area other than where necessary, such as for:

• work or education purposes
• urgent engine health, maintenance check flights, and flights to maintain currency only, where alternative options are not available

You should also look to reduce the number of journeys you make.

The full advice for England is here.

The advice for Northern Ireland is here.

The advice for Wales is here.

The advice for Scotland is here.

Which tier are you in? Search here.